Stories tagged with: Mike Sims

A consulting firm gains approval from Zanesville City Council as the Y-Bridge Lift Station project moves forward.

The estimated cost of the hiring CH2M to oversee the project will be over $385,000. The company was hired based on their qualifications in handling projects of this size. They'll make sure the contractors stay with-in the perimeters.

"It's beyond our expertise when you're talking more than just a simple water, sewer line or a street improvement," said Public...

It's a routine winter for those plowing our roadways in the City of Zanesville.

Zanesville's Public Service Director said that salt prices this year are just over $49 for a ton. Last winter, the city was paying over $60 a ton for salt. The mild winter also led to a problem for the city on where to store the excess.

"We had to unload all the bins that we keep our stone and other construction materials like sand and gravel in and actually fill them with salt and then buy huge...

Public Service Director Mike Sims said the cost for preparing the fields can run between $30-40,000. He told City Council that they decided to turn the running of league play and other administrative duties over to a management company in order to relieve pressure on the parks general fund.

The City of Zanesville provides a service that helps its citizens and helps comply with a state requirement.

At Monday's City Council, members passed an ordinance that allows the city to implement storm water quality regulations. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency mandates, through the MS-4 Storm Water Program, that the city must do their best to control erosion, sediment and other items away from storm sewers. Leaf collection is one way to comply.

An ordinance passes through Zanesville City Council hiring three temporary employees for the city.

The employees are retired communications officers and will be hired through a temporary employment agency to work at least 90 days. The hope is to allow current dispatchers take delayed vacations and save the city money on overtime.

The city has hired three permanent dispatchers that are in the process of training. Public Safety Director Fred Buck said this will elevate some stress...

City council passed an ordinance to increase sewer rates earlier this year...

The increase is five dollars more per month or ten dollars bi-monthly. Director of Public Service Mike Sims said the price hike covers debts on the combined sewer separation program, mandated by the EPA.

"They're major sewer separation projects, they're all over a million dollars a piece. And the only way we can really fund it is through, you know, an incremental rate increase to pay for the debt...

The first major snowfall of the season blew into our area with some snow and lots of wind chill.

Many local schools closed or went on two-hour delays due the bad weather.Snow plows and salt trucks took to the roadways to try to keep up with the blowing and drifting conditions.Zanesville Public Service Director Mike Sims said some minor freezing occurred on roads, but most everything went as planned for the city.

Those who love snow haven't had a lot of enjoyment this winter season. But, for the Zanesville Street Department the lack of the white stuff means a lot of green.

In December 2010 there was 282 hours of overtime combine that with salt and fuel costs and the city ended up paying almost $26,000. This year, there has only been 22 hours of overtime with no salt used and $1,700 spent on fuel.

"The only is we have to buy salt. We get it by state purchase and it's $60 a ton,...